ENGLAND DUO IN THE DOCK
Marler and Yarde at risk for autumn Tests
TWO of Harlequins’ England contingent landed in hot water yesterday as the London club were driven to the brink of a swift European exit by a Wasps side who ended their losing run in style.
Joe Marler is in danger of being cited after a second-half incident at the Ricoh Arena which left the visitors’ Lions prop in the sin-bin. The loosehead’s leg was being held by Will Rowlands and after he attempted to free himself, he swung his forearm down on to the Wasps lock’s head.
Referee Mathieu Raynal showed Marler a yellow card — on the basis of contact with Rowlands’ shoulder — but the citing officer may refer the matter to a disciplinary hearing. England head coach Eddie Jones was in attendance and he will be concerned about any prospect of Marler being banned, with three weeks until the autumn opener against Argentina.
There was trouble for another of Quins’ England players prior to this Champions Cup fixture as wing Marland Yarde (below) was withdrawn following an ‘internal disciplinary matter’.
It is thought that he missed a training session and while the episode may have no direct impact on his Test prospects, it certainly won’t help his cause, at a time when there are places out wide up for grabs. Jack Nowell is out injured and Lions pair Elliot Daly and Anthony Watson are due to be rested.
The problems did not end there for Quins. A minute from the end of this one-sided Pool One clash, replacement centre Francis Saili was left unconscious on the turf after attempting a tackle on Joe Launchbury. There was a 12-minute stoppage while he was treated before being carried off on a stretcher.
Director of rugby John Kingston confirmed that Saili had been knocked out but added: ‘He is sitting up and he knows who I am.’
Kingston was less forthcoming about his England pair, other than to say Yarde could be considered for an A-team game tonight and that he had not seen the incident involving Marler. Quins conceded five tries as Wasps halted a five-match losing streak with a bonuspoint victory which keeps alive their hopes of a quarterfinal place. Jones witnessed Nathan Hughes inspire the hosts with a thunderous display of destructive ball-carrying.
In the absence of Billy Vunipola, England will need the Wasps No 8 to give them gain-line-busting momentum and this indicated that he is finding form at the right time. One early hand-off left Chris Robshaw flat on his back and, soon after, he inflicted the same indignity on Dave Ward, while simultaneously sending Jamie Roberts tumbling backwards.
By then, he had already teed up a try for Dan Robson, with a blindside burst from a line-out. ‘He led from the front today,’ said Dai Young, Wasps’ director of rugby. ‘ Everyone knows about his ball- carrying but his defensive work has really kicked on too.’
Launchbury added: ‘ When Nathan is on his game, you can have your best man try to stop him, but he takes some stopping.’
Christian Wade touched down twice, once from a counter-attack and later from an interception and 60-metre run to the line. Ashley Johnson struck from a line- out drive and Josh Bassett twisted over for the bonus-point try 13 minutes from time.
Jimmy Gopperth kicked 16 points and Saili scored Quins’ sole try before being helped off.
‘We needed that win,’ said Young. ‘It wasn’t the perfect performance but our confidence should start flooding back after that.’